The B-17 in the Azores

A new book was released this summer about the B-17 in service of the RAF Coastal Command, named “Boeing B-17 Fortress in RAF Coastal Command Service”.

The British baptized the aircraft “Fortress” and it initially equipped Coastal Command, because the earlier Fortress I (B-17C) had performed poorly during operations with 90 Squadron, later models were not available in sufficient numbers, and the type was unsuitable for the night time bombing role.

The Bomber Command used as heavy bombers the Lancaster, the Halifax and the Stirling. The Fortress and the Liberator (B-24), both of American construction, were used by this Command for secondary missions (electronic counter-measures, patrol, transport and others).

Initial deliveries, sent by the Americans, would be allocated to the Coastal Command. A bonus that this command cherished, as most their aircraft – especially in the first part of the conflict – were the leftovers from the other commands of the RAF (Fighter and Bomber).

It is not for any reason the Coastal Command become known as the “Cinderella Service”.

This book has the particularity of following the activities from the B-17 in the Coastal Command and to dedicate one fifth of its pages (43 in 248) to their presence at the Lagens base, in the Azores.

All the aircraft involved are listed, the work of their crews described, including some epic encounters with enemy submarines. It is fully illustrated with many wartime photos, and scale plans of the airframe modifications. There are also full colour profiles of representative aircraft.

Here is the index of the book related with the Azores.

The Azores......................79
Obvious Choice..................82
Operation Alacrity .............85
Building a Base.................88
Day-and-Night Team..............89
Life at Lagens………...............94
Typical Mission.................95
Precious Petrol……..............102
Attacking a U-boat ............105
Desired Effect…................107
Transit Point….................108
The Americans Arrive...........111
Action and Departure...........112
Maintaining the Guard..........116
Engine Failures…...............118
Withdrawal……...................119

To purchase the book you can link here:
http://www.mmpbooks.biz/mmp/books.php?book_id=123

Best regards
Carlos Guerreiro

(This post has suffered changes related to historical aspects,in 28 September 2010, after the contact from the author of the book wish I thank)